COPE Galway’s #GalwayGirl Campaign Marks 16 Days of Action on Violence against Women

COPE Galway’s #GalwayGirl Campaign Marks 16 Days of Action on Violence against Women

26 November 2019

COPE Galway has launched a new community campaign, #GalwayGirl, to increase awareness and funds for the development of Modh Eile House, the local charity’s new domestic abuse service and refuge on Forster Street.

The initiative complements the annual global awareness campaign, 16 days of Action on Violence against Women, which began on November 25, International Day Opposing Violence against Women, and ends on December 10, International Human Rights Day.

Over a dozen projects are taking place around Galway City and County that embrace the #GalwayGirl campaign, with schools, businesses and local organisations coming together to spread the word and raise the final €400,000 in funds to help COPE Galway make Modh Eile House a reality.

“The Galway Community has shown incredible support and interest in helping us build this domestic abuse service and refuge for women and children in the western region who need our help”, said Dr. Carol Baumann, Manager of COPE Galway’s Domestic Abuse Service.

“We are looking forward to opening this new state-of-the-art facility early in 2020, where we can provide the very best care to the women and children who come to us in search of refuge and support. We also look forward to enhancing our outreach services, parenting supports and support groups, along with a significantly enhanced service for children. It will also be a base from which we continue to work with schools, colleges, and professional services to inform and increase awareness around domestic abuse in all its forms.”

Sharon Fitzpatrick, COPE Galway’s Head of Development said, “The Modh Eile House project is a significant undertaking. It has taken 10 years to find the right building, obtain planning, complete grant applications and secure funding. Construction at the site is almost finished and I am delighted to say that we have raised 90% of the funds required to complete the construction phase of this project. We now urgently need to deliver just over €400,000 to complete the project so we can open Modh Eile’s doors early in 2020.”

As part of the #GalwayGirl campaign, COPE Galway is posting videos and updates from members of the community on how you can support the Modh Eile development project and show solidarity for the 1 in 5 women in our community who will experience domestic abuse. Sharon Fitzpatrick explains, “The campaign includes blogs and a series of support messages from people across Galway who have got behind the campaign, ranging from the Galway Ladies Footballers to the Modh Eile site renovation team. Even Ed Sheeran has offered us his support for the #GalwayGirl campaign, calling it a ‘very worthy cause’ and allowing us use his famous song for the campaign.”

To find out how you can support #GalwayGirl and help raise the final funds to help Modh Eile House open its doors early in 2020, visit COPE Galways’ Facebook page or www.copegalway.ie/galwaygirl.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic abuse or is affected by any of the issues mentioned above phone COPE Galway Domestic Abuse Service at 091 565 985 (24h)

Galway Girls and supporters came to the Spanish Arch last weekend to help launch COPE Galway’s new #GalwayGirl campaign to increase awareness and raise funds for Modh Eile House, Galway’s new Domestic Abuse Service and Refuge. Over 16 Days, from Monday 25 November (International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women 2019), COPE Galway will post daily videos and updates from members of the community on how you can support the #GalwayGirl campaign and show solidarity for the 1 in 5 women in our community who will experience domestic abuse. For more, visit COPE Galways’ Facebook page or www.copegalway.ie/galwaygirl

Background information for Editor:

In 2018 COPE Galway Domestic Abuse Service supported 457 individual women plus their children. We provided 771 outreach appointments for 208 individual women; accompanied 201 women to court and offered 148 play therapy sessions. We were unable to immediately accommodate 169 women with their 233 children on 227 occasions due to lack of space. For these women we provide emergency short-term accommodation and/or work closely with other refuges in neighbouring counties so they can be safe in the immediate term.

COPE Galway Domestic Abuse Service, currently based at Waterside House in Galway, is the only 24-hour accessible refuge in the western region. It provides refuge accommodation, information, support and court accompaniment to women and their children experiencing domestic abuse. There is an outreach service for women in the city and county who are in abusive relationships and who need support and information on their options.

COPE Galway’s search for a new facility commenced over ten years ago. After five years of trying to source and secure a suitable alternative, the Mercy order offered the charity a gift of the convent building on Forster Street. “ModhEile” is the name chosen by women who have experienced domestic abuse and who believe that this name, which is the Irish for “Another Way”, will give hope to others to find a way to rebuild their lives and create a better future for their families. COPE Galway’s vision is that Modh Eile House will provide a safe space for women and children to rebuild their lives, free from domestic abuse and violence.

Modh Eile House will increase current capacity to accommodate at least 9 women and 20 children, offering 9 self-contained apartments with bedroom, bathroom, living and kitchen facilities. It will also offer enhanced security and facilities allowing specialised individual and group support work, a fit for purpose childcare unit, suitable indoor and outdoor play areas and office and communal spaces.

COPE Galway is a Galway-based charity providing a range of services that address the needs of people who are homeless and at risk of homelessness; women and children who experience domestic violence and abuse and supports for older people living in the community. Their vision is for an “Improved Quality of Life in a Home of your Own” for people affected by homelessness, women and children experiencing domestic abuse, and older people.

Share

Subscribe to our

Newsletter

We’ll send you news and stories from our services, and our fundraising, events and opportunities to support us. You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our privacy policy.

COPE Galway is a local Galway charity whose vision is for an “Improved Quality of Life in a Home of your Own” for people affected by homelessness, women and children experiencing domestic abuse, and older people in our community.